"So I was right. You do have a Beast Sigil," Rosaria said with a hint of surprise in her tone.
Reinhard furrowed his brows in confusion. "Beast Sigil?"
The crow opened its beak and spoke up. "She means you have made a connection with me to gain access to my power."
Reinhard blinked in surprise before turning to stare at the talking crow. "You... You can talk? Wait, never mind that, how did I make a connection with you? I only recall Odin-"
"Odin did it for you." The Crow interrupted him.
Reinhard's eyes widened. "Why would he-"
Rosaria interrupted his question with an explanation. "It's something SSS-class beast spirits do. You can think of it as another gift, but a Beast Sigil is a new development. So far, it's only been recorded that SSS-class spirits provide benefits such as a stronger body, better regeneration, or extra abilities."
The crow ruffled its feathers and spoke again. "Sounds about right. You can call me Mimir."
Klaus chuckled warmly. "Welcome, Mimir."
Reinhard glanced at Rosaria with obvious confusion. "Having an SSS-class beast spirit is..."
Rosaria nodded knowingly. "It's a very strong benefit, but only in the beginning. You will understand later, but for now, you should know that a Beast Sigil essentially allows Beast Masters to attain additional abilities from other beasts by forming connections with them."
"So I can gain the skills of the beasts I tame?" Reinhard asked, his voice carrying a note of excitement.
Klaus chuckled. "Only the skills you have seen. This is because when you make the connection, the skills being integrated are based on what you know and can imagine in your mind."
Reinhard furrowed his brows before then his eyes slightly widened and he asked. "Can I change-"
"Nope," Mimir said definitively, his tone suggesting this was a fixed rule with no exceptions.
Reinhard sighed but nodded in acceptance. He stood up, and Mimir faded away in a swirl of black-purple light, leaving only the faint scent of bark and a slight cold breeze. He followed behind Rosaria as she moved toward the door with a stride. The Mark of the Herald swayed gently against his chest with each step, its weight already becoming familiar. Behind them, Klaus leaned back in his chair and waved his hand in farewell, already reaching for another cigar from the ornate box on his desk.
The corridor outside seemed different now that it was close to midnight. The gas lamps had been dimmed to their nighttime settings, casting longer shadows across the polished marble floors. Rosaria's heels clicked against the stone as they walked and Reinhard glanced around the beautiful academy with a hint of awe.
As they moved through the academy's halls, Reinhard noticed the building's taking on an almost ethereal quality. Moonlight filtered through the tall windows, creating patterns on the floor that shifted as they passed. The iron work of the staircases and balustrades cast intricate shadows across the floor.
Other students were visible in the distance, all heading toward the dormitory areas under the guidance of staff members who called out directions and reminders about curfew. Some wore the standard academy uniform of dark black jackets with brass buttons and matching trousers for the boys and similar styling in skirts for the girls.
Others sported more elaborate attire that suggested they were upperclassmen or held special positions within the academy.
Several students glanced in Reinhard's direction as they passed, their eyes inevitably drawn to the Mark of the Herald now visible at his throat. He could hear whispered conversations trailing as he and Rosaria passed but nothing in detail. He glanced down at the necklace before sighing to himself.
Rosaria led him through a series of increasingly narrow corridors as they moved away from the main academic buildings toward the residential quarters. They passed carved stone archways that marked transitions between sections, and brass plaques indicated different dormitory wings.
They passed through a set of heavy wooden doors marked "First Year Boys - East Wing". The hallway beyond was lined with numbered doors, each bearing a small number plate on the door at the center. Gas lamps mounted at regular intervals, illuminated the area and kept the place warm.
The carpet ran down the center of the hallway while Reinhard saw other students glancing at him before opening the door and entering. Soon, they reached his own room and Rosaria took out a brass key.
After opening the door, she hands the brass key to Reinahrd and says. "This is your room. You'll find everything you need inside while the bathroom with a shower is on the first floor. All your belongings have already been placed in the room."
Reinhard glanced inside to see the worn travel bag he had brought positioned near the bed. The sight of his few possessions in this new space made the transition feel more real.
"I would love to tell you more, but you've had enough to take in for one day," Rosaria continued. "Tomorrow I will give you some books to look over, and you can ask your teammates if you have any more questions."
Reinhard nodded as he was still reeling from everything that happened today. The trial, meeting Odin, discovering his SSS-class ranking, becoming Herald, and manifesting Mimir. It was overwhelming even though he had tried preparing himself and already been through many stressful situations.
But then a thought struck him, leading Reinhard to ask. "Is there a way I can send letters before I go on the expedition?"
Rosaria nodded and pointed toward the desk visible through the doorway. "You can write your letter and then give the papers to me tomorrow. I will deliver them to the Mail Institute, they're the ones who handle news and correspondence for the academy."
Reinhard smiled, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, Professor Rosaria."
"Think nothing of it, now remember tomorrow. Meet me near the elevator at the center of the University Main Building we took earlier. Be there by nine am sharp." Rosaria says softly with an expressionless look.
Reinhard nodded once more, and Rosaria stepped back into the corridor, pulling the door closed behind her with a soft click. The sound seemed to seal him into his new life, separating him from everything that had come before.